Milton, MA — Investigators from the Milton Fire Department and the state fire marshal’s office are probing the cause of a three-alarm fire at a three-story apartment building early Tuesday morning that forced the evacuation of eight people and caused approximately $200,000 in damage.

Deputy Chief Kevin Finerty said investigators were wrapping up their examination of the scene at 54 Central Ave. but that a determination of the cause of the blaze could take a week.

The Fire Department responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:47 a.m. and arrived to find heavy fire in the building extending from the first floor to the third. Finerty said the third floor suffered heavy damage.

In addition to the Milton Fire Department, fire fighters from Canton and Stoughton responded to the second alarm, and members of the Boston Fire Department arrived on the third. The scene was cleared at approximately 6 a.m. None of the people evacuated from the building were injured, Finerty said, and no fire fighters suffered any significant injuries.

The building sustained enough damage that no residents were allowed to return and the building was boarded up.